Ramadan in the work place .

[Bald-Eagle22]

Guys

At work we are increasingly employing people from the Asian community and I would like to know if anyone has any experience of people requesting time of for Ramadam and what the law stipulates for religious festivals.

We have recently employed someone on a part time basis in my work place , been here 3 months , and he works 3evenings a week from 8pm to 1am , very good at his job and I would up to this point say his was a definate asset to the company.

Last night he calls me asking for time of for Ramadam but I have already factored him into annual leave cover around office staff during August, when we employed him he mentioned nothing about taking time of during this period.

 

[Vita]

I don't think he should take time off Ramadan.

But because he works during those hours, the fast opens around 9:25pm but as days get shorter the fast will open earlier, so he would need to have something to eat, and then pray, and also pray at around 10:30.

 

[int]

Surely with him working 8pm-1am he's better off as he's able to eat and drink whilst awake/at work?

I can't see how taking time off will benefit him...

 

[Hank_Marvin]

it lasts about a month, he wants a month off unpaid?

He could eat after work, makes no sense to have time off.

 

[lixxus]

LOL, he will be eating while at work, especially when it gets closer to the end of Ramadan. I don't see why there should be an issue.

The only reason I could see fit would be he wants to spend time to reflect and pray taraweeh.

 

[lixxus]

I myself am planning to take 2 weeks off during the start of it, just to get settle and get into a routine and rhythm.

It lasts a month and its getting closer to summer now, which is going to make it very hard. The thing is most people get 21-30 day annual leave holiday and it would be impossible to ask your employer to have a whole month off work and wouldn't be viable.

Not to mention you would be stuck working the rest of the year without any holiday and praying for a bank holiday to creep up.

 

[Bald-Eagle22]

I myself am planning to take 2 weeks off during the start of it, just to get settle and get into a routine and rhythm.

It lasts a month and its getting closer to summer now, which is going to make it very hard. The thing is most people get 21-30 day annual leave holiday and it would be impossible to ask your employer to have a whole month off work and wouldn't be viable.

Not to mention you would be stuck working the rest of the year without any holiday and praying for a bank holiday to creep up.

It has been explained to me in great detail and I am fully aware of the fasting ritual and prayers after , that is not what I am asking

What I Need to know is this , from an operational point of view he was employed to cover our busy periods between 8pm and 1am three nights a week , I have placed other member of staffs leave around his hours this month, so from an operational point of view the answer will be no you can't have any time off for this month.

What I want to know from a legal point of view is are there any implications for my company as an employer for not letting him have time of due to religious beliefs ?

 

[PhillyDee]

You need professional advice!

 

[sswats]

What I want to know from a legal point of view is are there any implications for my company as an employer for not letting him have time of due to religious beliefs ?

Its not against Islam to work in Ramadan, so i don't think he can use that as an excuse. If you can't provide him with time off then theres no reason why you should give him time off.

Plus his work schedule is perfect for Ramadan. Sleeps during the day and works at night when he could eat. Wish i could do that.

 

[darael]

I'd gently remind them which country they are working in.

 

[Morgoth]

I'd gently remind them which country they are working in.

Ahaha.

 

[Dolph]

No need whatsoever for time off for Ramadan. The things he 'has' to do for Ramadan do not include not working.

 

[The Running Man]

ramadam is a choice, like if i religiously went on holiday to america for a month each year. if he wants time off for it, then it should come out of holiday time, like for anyone else.

 

[Cosimo]

I would have thought that it’s a case of fitting it in around your work and it's certainly not an excuse for time off work unless it's taken as paid leave.

 

[Shakeel]

ramadam is a choice,

for you as a non muslim then yes its a choice lol but for us its not. we have to fast. its one of the five pillars of islam

regarding the op i dont think you do need to give him time off. he can easily to just eat a little something at the time of eating or maybe time his breaks. if he insists then he should take out his holiday time

 

[DAnDan]

for you as a non muslim then yes its a choice lol but for us its not. we have to fast. its one of the five pillars of islam

regarding the op i dont think you do need to give him time off. he can easily to just eat a little something at the time of eating or maybe time his breaks. if he insists then he should take out his holiday time

But you choose to be a muslim. You could just as easily choose not to follow any of it.

For the OP, I don't see why he'd be entitled to any time off, and if you did give it to him, I'd expect the rest of the staff to be asking for the same if they felt like some time off.

 

[steve-h]

I'd gently remind them which country they are working in.

Same.

wait wat

 

[Sukh]

for you as a non muslim then yes its a choice lol but for us its not. we have to fast. its one of the five pillars of islam

regarding the op i dont think you do need to give him time off. he can easily to just eat a little something at the time of eating or maybe time his breaks. if he insists then he should take out his holiday time

But you choose to be a muslim. You could just as easily choose not to follow any of it.

I think his was a quite reasonable response, I think you are just looking for a conflict where there isn't one. This country has religious freedom, and if you choose not to express any then that is your prerogative.

 

[TheCrow]

I think his was a quite reasonable response, I think you are just looking for a conflict where there isn't one. This country has religious freedom, and if you choose not to express any then that is your prerogative.

I think that was his point. If you "choose" - that can work ether way, but its still a choice. Other things e.g. British Law while living in Britain is not a choice, but religion in this country is 100% your choice.

 

[lunarwolf]

if he wants time off then it should be deducted from his holidays as per his contract. simples. there is no legal requirement to give time off for ramadan.